Networking and information support for conservation of rocky plateaus in the Sahyadri-Konkan corridor • Aparna Watve, BIOME CONSERVATION FOUNDATION • CEPF-ATREE WESTERN GHATS RIT SMALL GRANT 1/2/2012 to 31/3/2013 Report and accounts submitted What are rocky plateaus? Forest “Rock outcrop” Wetlands Grasslands Ferricrete/ Mesa High altitude meadow Plateau Sada/ Kharam X Dry Season photo of lateritic plateau in Kolhapur For a month in monsoon:- KAS : WORLD HERITAGE SITE 3 lakh tourists in 3 months Objectives: Networking (organizations, individuals) Information support (site and species information sheets) Dissemination in public domain. Network partners, stakeholders NETWORKING SCIENTISTS, INDIVIDUALS, NGOs 52 participants Material : FAQs about rock outcrops Step 1 : Creating an issue-based network Many more faces 118 members in the group Biodiversity experts Nirmal Kulkarni Gayatri Chitale Sanjay Thakur Varad Giri Neelesh Dahanukar Young researchers Pratiksha Panaskar Apeksha Patil Siddharth Kulkarni Yatish Lele Archana Guleria Step 2 : Baseline documents preparation • 70 species profiles (endemic, threatened) are added to WG Portal • 15 Site profiles with detailed information are prepared Step 3: Information support for conservation planning • Case study 1: Support to Jui Pethe’s project (Nature Conservation Society) • Anjaneri (Nashik): Support for population studies of endangered species, baseline information used by CCF, Nashik for regulating indiscriminate plant collection on the plateau • Help in preparation of management guidelines by providing accurate information on biodiversity and ecosystem processes • Has received Rs. 2.5lakh grant from forest department • DST Grant of Rs. 5 lakhs is sanctioned (separate project) Step 3: Information support for conservation planning Case study 2: Support to Hema Ramani’s work (Bombay Environmental Action Group) • Panchgani tableland (Satara): Support for legal protection of Tableland to supoort biodiversity conservation plan and stop unsustainable tourism activities • Conservation and management guidelines have been submitted to Bombay High Court based on accurate information on biodiversity and ecosystem processes Step 3: Information support for conservation planning Case study 3: Kas Plateau: Natural World Heritage Site Only mis-directed action by administration was of fencing for conservation Meeting with the forest minister, forest secretary, Commissioner Public Consultation in Pune Discussion with local people Assessing the Ecological Impact of Tourism and Developing Ecotourism through Stakeholder Participation for Conservation of Kas Plateau, Maharashtra, India Rufford Grant Rs. 5,00,000/- Publication of conservation and management framework for Kas plateau Step 3: Information support for conservation planning Case study 4: Dhangarwada plateau Site profile detailing biodiversity conservation values is being used by National Green Tribunal appointed committee in the matter of Forest Department vs. bauxite mining company Step 3: Information support for conservation planning Case study F: Amboli Plateaus Malabar Nature Conservation Club’s work 1. Documentation of biodiversity Site profile detailing biodiversity 2. Sustainable tourism conservation values will be used for 3. Supporting local students Development of People’s Biodiversity 4. Awareness generation Register 5. Community based conservation Possibility of BIODIVERSITY HERITAGE SITE A request for consideration is made to the State Biodiversity Board Presentation of information in front of senior administrators, forest department, policy makers SPECIAL POLICY ON ROCK OUTCROPS All the villages around plateaus are included in the WGEEP report in ESA1 and Kasturirangan report in Ecologically Sensitive AREAS - Challenges in preparing management guideline are being addressed Summary • Increased participation and networking amongst diverse group • Three projects on plateaus Impact of tourism on Kas- Prerna Agarwal, funded by Rufford Foundation, Digital herbarium of Anjaneri plateau – Jui Pethe, funded by Forest Department Ecology of Lichens (Kas, Panchgani)- Gayatri Chitale, funded by DST, India • Network of young researchers, capacity building of local students • Information about 15 sites and about 70 species endemic to plateaus- Western Ghats portal • Conservation and management guidelines published Future steps for Rocky Plateau Conservation • Keeping the network dynamic: Facebook upgrade to website planned • Bringing primary biodiversity information in Public Domain: Special issue of JOTT by ZOO, articles published by different groups • Securing PERMANENT social, legal and policy support for rocky plateaus • Financial support for the conservation activity- ongoing Special thanks to All the networking NGOs, individuals, partners Government departments CEPF-ATREE Western Ghats Small Grant and RIT .